Retractable ball mark repair tool

ABSTRACT

A retractable golf ball mark repair device comprising a retractable cord reel and a golf ball mark repair tool. The retractable cord reel has one end of a self retracting cord protruding through its periphery. The golf ball mark repair tool is attached to the end of the cord protruding through the periphery of the reel. A clip is attached to the reel for attaching the device to the belt of a golfer. A ball marker is releasably attached to the device. The device is worn on the belt of a golfer. When the golf ball mark repair tool is needed, it is pulled from the device and operated. After use, its self retracts to the reel.

BACKGROUND

Golf is a sport enjoyed by a large number of people. In addition to golfclubs and golf balls a golfer typically carries an assortment of golfaccessories while playing the game. One such accessory is a ball markrepair tool.

During the course of playing a game it is common for a golfer to hit agolf ball onto a putting green in such a manner that the golf ball hitsthe putting green with a degree of force sufficient to create adepression within the putting green. The putting green depression mustbe promptly repaired. Otherwise, the putts of subsequent golfers puttingon that putting green may be adversely affected when the ball hits thedepression after being directed toward the cup of the putting green.Additionally, the putting green grass within the depression has atendency to die if the depression is not promptly repaired. Not only isthis aesthetically unacceptable to many golfers and golf course owners,the dead putting green grass often causes putting surface irregularitieswhich adversely affect golf balls rolling over the irregularities bychanging the direction and speed of those golf balls.

A ball mark repair tool is a simple tool for repairing putting greendepressions. The putting green depressions are also known as ball marks.The ball mark repair tool is shaped to fit within the hand of a user andhas a forked end. The forked end of the ball mark repair tool is pushedunder the ball mark and used to lift the ball mark. Sometimes severalsuch procedures are needed. The depression is lifted in order tore-create a flat putting green surface.

Most golfers, or their partners, carry ball mark repair tools with themwhile golfing. The ball mark repair tool is typically carried within thegolfer's pocket or within the golfer's golf bag. These are not optimallocations for carrying ball mark repair tools. A golfer often has adifficult time finding a ball mark repair tool within his or her pocketbecause the pocket often is cluttered with other objects including golfballs, golf tees, golf ball markers, pencils, scorecards and non golfrelated objects such as wallets, watches and pocket change. If the ballmark repair tool is kept within the golfer's golf bag, it is oftendifficult to find there are also. Common golfing etiquette prohibitsgolf bags from being laid upon putting greens. As a result, if a golferforgets to remove a ball mark repair tool from the golfer's golf bag,additional time is lost and golfer inconvenience added by the necessityof retrieving the tool from the golf bag.

What is needed is a ball mark repair tool attached to a retractable reelwhich can be easily attached to the belt or waistband of a golfer.There, it would be out of the way of the golfer when it is not needed.However, when the tool is needed, it would be readily available byextending it from the belt or waistband. Ideally, the new device wouldalso have a ball marker releasably attached to it. Golfers on puttinggreens almost always require golf ball markers to mark the positions oftheir golf balls before the balls are lifted for cleaning or creating aclear putting a line for fellow golfers.

There have been numerous attempts in the prior art to improve ball markrepair tools and to combine ball mark repair tools with other devices.The prior art also discloses retractable reels in combination with nongolf related devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,133 shows a folding ball markrepair tool. U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,502 shows a geometrically improved ballmark repair tool. U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,831 shows a ball mark repair toolcombined with a cigar support. U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,519 shows a ball markrepair tool combined with a golf club groove cleaner. U.S. Pat. No.5,224,700 shows a ball mark repair tool combined with a stopwatch. U.S.Pat. No. 4,927,354 shows a retractable reel combined with a cigarettelighter.

SUMMARY

The object of the retractable ball mark repair tool is to provide asmall device which attaches to the belt or waistband of a golfer. Thedevice contains a golf ball mark repair tool attached to a retractablereel by a self retracting cord. The golf ball mark repair tool may beextended from the retractable reel and used by pulling upon it. When thegolf ball mark repair tool is no longer needed it self retracts into theretractable reel.

The retractable ball mark repair tool is comprised of a retractable cordreel and a golf ball mark repair tool. One end of a self retracting cordprotrudes through the periphery of the reel. The reel is spring-loadedsuch that a retracting force is applied to the cord when the cord isextended from the reel. The golf ball mark repair tool is attached tothe end of the cord which protrudes through the periphery of the reel.

A clip is attached to the retractable cord reel. The clip facilitatesattaching the retractable ball mark repair tool to an article ofclothing of a user. Typically, the clip will attach the retractable ballmark repair tool to a golfer's belt or waistband.

Preferably, a ball marker is releasably attached to the retractable ballmark repair tool. When a golfer is upon a putting green and in need of agolf ball mark repair tool the golfer usually also needs a golf ballmarker. The golf ball marker is used to mark the position of a golfer'sball prior to the ball being lifted and cleaned. By attaching the golfball marker to the retractable ball mark repair tool the golf ballmarker is readily available. The golf ball marker can be made releasablyattachable by adapting it to be press fit into a hole positioned withinthe golf ball mark repair tool or the retractable cord reel.Alternatively, the golf ball marker and the retractable ball mark repairtool may be magnetized to facilitate the releasable attachment of thegolf ball marker to the golf ball mark repair tool or the retractablecord reel by magnetic force.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable ball mark repair toolattached to the belt of a golfer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retractable ball mark repair tool ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the golfer and retractable ball markrepair tool of FIG. 1 showing the golfer extending the golf ball markrepair tool from his belt in order to repair a ball mark on a puttinggreen.

DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiment of a retractable ball mark repair tool 20 isshown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The retractable ball mark repair tool 20 iscomprised of a retractable cord reel 22, a clip 32, a cord 24, aterminal 26, a clasp 28, a golf ball mark repair tool 30 and a ballmarker 34. The retractable cord reel 22 can be a commonly available IDcard reel. An ID card reel is a small device which clips to the belt,waistband or other article of clothing of a user and contains aretractable cord adapted to be attached to an ID card.

A variety of retractable cord reels 22 exist and can be used toimplement this invention. The preferred retractable cord reel 22 has aplastic cylindrical housing. Preferably, the housing is approximately 1⅛inch in diameter and ¼ inch high. The housing has a hole in the curvedwall portion of its periphery to allow the passage of a self retractingcord 24. A coil shaped spring is positioned within the housing and hasone end anchored to the center portion of the housing. A cylindricalspool surrounds the spring and is attached to the other end of thespring. One end of the self retracting cord 24 is attached to the spool.The self retracting cord 24 is wound around the spool and has its otherend protruding through the housing hole such that pulling on the freeend of the cord 24 causes the spool to turn and the cord 24 to unwindfrom it, thereby tightening the coil spring and increasing theretracting force upon the self retracting cord 24. The free end of theself retracting cord 24 can be pulled to extend it away from the housingof the retractable cord reel 22. When the free end of the selfretracting cord 24 is released the cord 24 self retracts into thehousing.

A clip 32 is attached to the housing of the retractable cord reel 22, asshown in FIG. 2. The clip 32 is shaped to secure the retractable ballmark repair tool 20 to the belt or waistband of a golfer. The clip 32can be in the form of a simple bracket which applies a securing forcebetween the bracket and the housing of the retractable cord reel 22.Optionally, the clip 32 can be a spring-loaded clip having a thumboperated lever which releases the securing force of the clip 32 upon thehousing of the retractable cord reel 22. The clip 32 is shaped andadapted to facilitate the secure attachment of the retractable ball markrepair tool 20 to the belt or waistband of a golfer.

Preferably, the self retracting cord 24 is a piece of stringapproximately 24 inches in length. One end of the self retracting cord24 protrudes through the periphery of the retractable cord reel 22. Thisend of the self retracting cord 24 may be attached directly to the golfball mark repair tool 30. However, it is preferred to attach this end ofthe self retracting cord 24 to the terminal 26. The terminal 26 isshaped to prevent the cord 24 from being fully retracted within the reel22. The terminal 26 is also shaped to provide for the pivotal attachmentof the clasp 28. The terminal 26 shown in FIG. 2 is cylindricallyshaped. The diameter of the cylinder is greater than the cord openingwithin the reel 22 in order to prevent the terminal 26 from beingretracted into the housing of the reel 22. One end of the terminal isadapted for attachment to the cord 24. The other end of the terminal 26contains a transversely oriented hole, as shown in FIG. 2, in order toprovide for the pivotal attachment of the clasp 28.

The clasp 28 pivotally attaches the golf mark repair tool 30 to theterminal 26 and cord 24. The clasp 28 is in the shape of a ring. Theclasp 28 fits through a hole within the upper portion of the golf ballmark repair tool 30 and the hole within the terminal 26. The clasp 28allows the golf ball mark repair tool 30 to move independently of theterminal 26 and the reel 22. This promotes golfer comfort by reducingthe likelihood of the prongs of the golf ball mark repair tool 30impinging upon the body of the golfer. The use of the clasp 28 isoptional. The golf ball mark repair tool 30 may be attached directly tothe terminal 26 or the self retracting cord 24.

Many types of golf ball mark repair tools 30 may be used with thisinvention. A common golf ball mark repair tool 30 is shown in FIG. 2.The tool 30 is shaped to fit within the hand of a golfer. It has twoprongs for inserting under and lifting a ball mark 36. It has adepression within its upper portion shaped to receive the thumb of thegolfer. It has a hole within its upper periphery which is shaped toreceive the clasp 28. It has a hole near the middle to receive the pegof a ball marker 34. Preferably, the golf ball mark repair tool 30 ispivotally attached to the clasp 28, as shown in FIG. 2. Optionally, thegolf ball mark repair tool 30 may be attached directly to the terminal26, or it may be attached to the end of the cord 24 protruding throughthe periphery of the reel 22 if a terminal 26 is not used.

Preferably, a ball marker 34 is releasably attached to the retractableball mark repair tool 20, as shown in FIG. 2. This will provide thegolfer with ready access to a ball marker 34. The golf ball marker 34may be made releasably attachable to the retractable ball mark repairtool 20 by adapting it to be press fit into the hole positioned withinthe middle of the golf ball mark repair tool 30. With this configurationthe peg protruding from the center of a common golf ball marker 34 canbe pressed into the hole within the golf ball mark repair tool 30,thereby releasably attaching the ball marker 34 to the golf ball markrepair tool 30. Alternatively, the golf ball marker 34 and theretractable ball mark repair tool 20 may be magnetized to facilitate thereleasable attachment of the ball marker 34 to the golf ball mark repairtool 20 or the retractable cord reel 22 by magnetism. FIG. 2 shows aball marker 34 attachable to the retractable cord reel 22 of theretractable ball mark repair tool 20.

In order to use the retractable golf ball mark repair tool 20 a golfersecures the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 to his or her belt orwaistband by placing the clip 32 on the side of the belt or waistbandnearer the golfer's body and placing the retractable cord reel 22 on theside of the belt or waistband more distant from the golfer's body, asshown in FIG. 1. In this position the retractable golf ball mark repairtool 20 is readily available for use when needed, but does not otherwiseinterfere with the golfer's freedom of movement and golf swings. Whenthe golfer desires to repair a ball mark 36 on a putting green uponwhich the golfer is standing, the golfer extends the golf ball markrepair tool 30 from the retractable cord reel 22 by pulling upon thegolf ball mark repair tool 30. Then, the golfer repairs the ball mark 36in the traditional manner, as depicted in FIG. 3. After the ball mark 36has been repaired the golf ball mark repair tool 30 is allowed to beretracted to the retractable cord reel 22, as shown in FIG. 1. If thegolfer is in need of a ball marker 34, the ball marker 34 is removedfrom the retractable ball mark repair tool 20 with a manual pullingforce. After the use of the ball marker 34 is completed, the ball marker34 is reattached to the retractable ball mark repair tool 20.

The retractable ball mark repair tool 20 has many advantages over theprior art. When properly used, the retractable ball mark repair tool 20is always with the golfer when needed. Although it is always with thegolfer when needed it does not interfere with the golfer's movement orgolf swings when it is not being used. When the golfer needs a golf ballmark repair tool 30, the tool can be immediately retrieved from thegolfer's waist area. The golfer does not need to search his or herpockets for the tool. The golfer will not be injured by the prongs ofthe golf ball mark repair tool 30 when reaching into his or her pocketsto retrieve it. The golfer will not need to walk over to the golfer'sgolf bag in order to search for and retrieve a golf ball mark repairtool 30. The retractable ball mark repair tool 20 easily andconveniently fits upon the belt or waistband of the golfer.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art undoubtedly willfind alternative embodiments obvious after reading this disclosure. Withthis in mind, the following claims are intended to define the scope ofprotection to be afforded the inventor, and those claims shall be deemedto include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A retractable ball mark repair tool comprising: (a) a retractablecord reel having one end of a self retracting cord protruding throughits periphery; and (b) a golf ball mark repair tool attached to the endof the cord protruding through the periphery of the reel.
 2. Theretractable ball mark repair tool of claim 1, further comprising a clipattached to the retractable cord reel for attaching the retractable ballmark repair tool to an article of clothing of a user.
 3. The retractableball mark repair tool of claim 1, further comprising a ball markerreleasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.
 4. Theretractable ball mark repair tool of claim 2, further comprising a ballmarker releasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool. 5.A retractable ball mark repair tool comprising: (a) a retractable cordreel having one end of a self retracting cord protruding through itsperiphery; (b) a terminal attached to the end of the cord protrudingthrough the periphery of the reel, said terminal being shaped to preventthe cord from being fully retracted within the reel; and (c) a golf ballmark repair tool attached to the terminal.
 6. The retractable ball markrepair tool of claim 5, further comprising a clip attached to theretractable cord reel for attaching the retractable ball mark repairtool to an article of clothing of a user.
 7. The retractable ball markrepair tool of claim 5, further comprising a ball marker releasablyattached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.
 8. The retractableball mark repair tool of claim 6, further comprising a ball markerreleasably attached to the retractable ball mark repair tool.
 9. Aretractable ball mark repair tool comprising: (a) a retractable cordreel having one end of a self retracting cord protruding through itsperiphery; (b) a terminal attached to the end of the cord protrudingthrough the periphery of the reel, said terminal being shaped to preventthe cord from being fully retracted within the reel and to provide forthe pivotal attachment of a clasp; (c) a clasp pivotally attached to theterminal; and (d) a golf ball mark repair tool pivotally attached to theclasp.
 10. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 9, furthercomprising a clip attached to the retractable cord reel for attachingthe retractable ball mark repair tool to an article of clothing of auser.
 11. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 9, furthercomprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractable ballmark repair tool.
 12. The retractable ball mark repair tool of claim 10,further comprising a ball marker releasably attached to the retractableball mark repair tool.